Linsey`s Bio - Linsey Beckett

Linsey Beckett is an award winning fiddle
player and step-dancer, who has been
delighting audiences across North America
and Europe with her toe-tapping fiddle styles
and energetic step-dancing.
The tradition of fiddling has been passed down
through many generations in Linsey’s family. Her love
of fiddling and performing emerged from years of
playing with her family band, The Beckett Family. Three
generations of The Beckett Family have entertained
audiences at fairs, old tyme dances, theatre shows,
fundraisers and festivals across Ontario. They have
opened for a variety of acts, including the Barra McNeils,
Natalie McMaster and Ashley McIssac, and were the
special guests at the Carmen Manitoba Fiddle Festival in
2001, the International Plowing Match in 2001-2004, and
the 25th as well as 26th annual Summerfolk Festival. The
group includes Linsey’s brother, Tyler, who plays fiddle
and a variety of other instruments, her father John on
bass and vocals, and her grandfather Stan, who is a wellrespected fiddler in the area. The Beckett Family continue
to perform locally and host their very successful New
Year’s Eve shows at the Roxy Theatre in Owen Sound.
Along with Linsey’s brother, Tyler, the duo have
performed at many high profile events, including the
Canada Day Celebrations in Ottawa for the CBC, the
International Milk Festival in Toronto, Fiddles of the
World in Halifax and the World Youth Day Celebrations
in Toronto. Tyler and Linsey competed in many fiddle
competitions throughout Canada, and are two time
Canadian duet fiddle Champions and three time
Ontario duet champions. Linsey also holds several
individual accolades, including the Ontario Junior Fiddle
Championships.
At the age of 13, Linsey started touring with
the Don Messer Jubilee tribute show, Memories of an
Islanders’ Jubilee, performing over 200 shows across
Canada. She continued with the show from 2001-2005,
and performed as the lead Don Messer role in her last
year. From 2007-2009, Linsey toured from coast to coast
with the Scott Woods Show, where she played bass,
mandolin, clarinet, fiddle and step-danced.
In 2009, Linsey began working with the
production, Bowfire, a universal string experience that
seamlessly weaves genres together in a dynamic theatre
setting. The group is composed of some of the best
violinists/fiddlers and musicians in North America, and
Linsey is honoured to share the stage with such talent. In
2010 and 2011, Bowfire performed at ‘Dressed to Kilt,’ a
fashion show hosted by Sean Connery in New York City.
This A-List event led to more opportunities for Bowfire,
including performances at Sean Connery’s 80th Birthday
party, privately held in the Bahamas in 2010. Linsey
tours with Bowfire across the United States, Mexico,
Germany and Canada. For current tour dates, check out
www.bowfire.com. Continued on next page...
w w w . l i n s e y b e c k e t t . c o m
Linsey continues to freelance, perform and record with a variety
of traditional fiddle, country and contemporary acts...
In the summer of 2011 and 2012, Linsey toured Europe and Scandinavia with CCMA and DCMA award winning
country group, South Mountain, featuring award winning guitarist Steve Pittico. She was part of the 2011 CCMA
Industry Award house band, and has continued to work with many other acts, including:
•
Harmonica extraordinaire, Charlie McCoy. McCoy is a Grammy Award winner and two
time CMA Instrumentalist of the Year Award winner.
•
onnie Dunn, of Brooks & Dunn. Linsey performed with Ronnie Dunn as
R
part of a small string ensemble during the 2011 Canadian Country Music
Awards.
•
rooklyn Roebuck. Linsey performed with Brooklyn on the season
B
finale of YTV’s “Next Star” in 2012. Brooklyn was the 2012 winner.
•
rhu master, George Gao. Linsey has the privilege of working with
E
Gao in Bowfire, but also had the opportunity to perform with him on
Fairchild TV’s annual Mandarin Profile Award ceremony in 2011.
•
ountry Music Artists: Kurk Bernard, Brad James, Madison Kozak, Kaitlin
C
Kozell, Amberley Beattie, Jon Steen, JK Gulley & Mati Haskell, Kristie Smith,
Paul Weber, Cheryl Thibideau and Naomi Bristow.
•
anadian Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee’s Johnny Burke, Larry Mercey
C
and Gordie Tapp.
•
Four time Juno Nominee, Harold MacIntyre
•
lton Lammie, winner of the 2006 Bravo television show,
E
So You Want to Be an Opera Star: Bathroom Divas.
•
CMA award winner’s Todd Nolan, Steve Piticco,
C
Tara Oram and Jason Blaine
•
ECMA Nominee, Kevin Collins
•
irst Rate People. An Indie/Pop group, who are
F
gaining great acclaim on Pitchfork
•
Folk/Acoustic projects Humble Divines and Radio Noir Orchestra
In 2011, Linsey graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a BA in
physical geography and music. She looks forward to pursuing a career in
musical performance and providing private lessons to aspiring musicians. In
the summer of 2013, Linsey will be releasing her first solo album, which will
feature a blend of styles that have influenced Linsey’s playing over the years.